If you closed your eyes and listened to my car drive down a bumpy road it would sound like a ratty 81 Chevy truck. Sounds like every suspension piece is shot.

Turns out each brake pad at each wheel - front and back - is loose. I know that is the noise, because when I apply light pressure to the pedal, all noise goes away.

Why does this happen, and how do I fix it? I have never seen this happen before...

 

For the front brakes, the inner pad should have a spring clip that secures it to the piston. The outer pad has two tabs on it that get bent in to hold it to the caliper. A large pair of channels locks or a c-clamp can be used to bend the tabs in.

Not sure about the rear brakes.

RBob.

 

Thank you!

 

The early, cast iron rear disc brakes are notorious for loose clunking. They are designed to self-adjust with application of the parking brake but don't do this well. There is a brake recall kit for them that helps somewhat. Even with the recall kit installed I'll occasionally experience some rattle if I've forgotten to use the hand brake for a few days.

You can tell if it's the rears by raising the parking brake as it's rattling. In severe cases your rotors may be rusted from lack of pad contact, especially if the recall kit has not been installed.

 

Is there a place to get this recall kit? Dealership (unlikely) or a vendor?

The discs are clean. The pads barely touch when the brake is applied...

 

Been several years but: Part Number: 18019028 from GM Parts Direct, listed as "Actuator" and included parts for both rear calipers, pistons, springs, seals, etc.

 

Thank you so much!

 

Brad, some folks have gotten a heavier spring for the prop valve with good result. This puts more line pressure into the rear calipers. There are a couple of threads on it. I've gotten one for my '83's J65s but haven't installed it yet.

Also, ALWAYS use your parking brake, or the rear will quickly get out of adjustment.

 

Thanks Charlie let me know when you get it installed. And I got to get into the habit of using my parking brake.

 

Ive posted a topic about this before, and I just did another pad swap.
Bending the tabs on the outer pad was successful, however it is the inner
pad that is giving me problems.

Even with the spring clip secured tightly into the piston, the pad still
jumbles around and makes racket. Not quite sure how I can remedy
this.. Im quite irritated, considering my other '89 doesnt give me any
problems.

Any thoughts on the inner pad play?

 

Bend the spring that goes into the piston so that it has more tension to hold it.

RBob.

 

Yeah, I bent the clip outward quite a bit upon installation.. I supposed I could
pop the caliper off one more time, and see If I can get a better bite on circumference
of the piston again.. But, I would still think any decent amount of shock would cause
the innner pad to shimmy loose again. The damn car is really trying my patience.

I appreciate your input in the past posts, and present RBob!

 

Update: Tackled the front brakes again and this time, bent the spring clip substantially
to keep a tighter fit into the piston. Noise went away up front, seems very solid!

The rear discs are now the main issue, not sure which way I should go in terms of
going with the stiffer prop valve spring, or trying to get my hands on a recall kit!
Id love to hear about the success with the stiffer spring.. I suppose ill search
the forums a bit.

Thanks RBob for convincing me to give it another bend job!

 

TPI, thanks for the update on the fronts. Will be trying this myself in the coming week. Ill also start using my parking brake and see if that tightens the rears up enough so it doesn't clack as bad.